X-Men: Days of Future Past
Directed by Bryan Singer
Starring Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore, Nicholas Hoult, Peter Dinklage, Evan Peters, Ian McKellan, and Patrick Stewart.
Backstory
The granddaddy of superhero franchises returns with its latest installment! After the spectacular reboot/prequel that was First Class, it looked like new blood had been injected into the franchise. And then, the revelation that they would be basing it on Days of Future Past, one of the more beloved stories in the comics. Things took a bit of a stumble when it was revealed that Matthew Vaughn, the director of First Class, wouldn’t be coming back. But, to replace him, Bryan Singer, the man who started the franchise, returned. Would the film live up to so much potential?
Plot
In a dark and dreary future, the planet is ruled by Sentinels…giant robots that were developed to hunt down mutants, but then turned on humans. Surviving members of the X-Man and Magneto’s brotherhood form the resistance. With time running out, our heroes launch a desperate plan. They’ve figured out a way to send Wolverine back in time to 1973. In that year, Mystique carries out an assassination that leads to the creation of the Sentinels. In the past, Wolverine’s mission is to reunite the younger Magneto and Professor X, and together, prevent Mystique from carrying out her plot. But, Wolverine soon discovers that the younger Professor X and Magneto are very different people. Can Wolverine pull Professor X out of his funk and turn him into the great leader he will become? Will Magneto put aside his plans for domination? Can Mystique be pulled back from the dangerous path she’s starting? Can Wolverine save both the past and the future?
What I Liked
First up, I think the movie does a much better job of looking and feeling like the 1970s than First Class did of looking and feeling like the 1960s. I loved Quicksilver and how he and his powers are portrayed in the film. It’s become so rare that we see a person who actually enjoys their superpowers and what they can do. And it’s great seeing how the Professor X/Magneto/Mystique trinity is evolving. Mystique has very much become Darth Vader. Magneto is the Emperor, seducing her to the Dark Side, and Professor X is Obi-Wan Kenobi, trying to pull her back from the edge. And the future war scenes! Singer said he spent a long lunch picking James Cameron’s brain, as Singer wanted The Terminator to be his model to follow. And The Terminator‘s influence is definitely felt in those future war scenes.
What I Didn’t Like
Not much. As a friend pointed out, this franchise seems to be cursed with bland scores, but that’s about it.
Final Assessment
This is truly one of the better X-Men outings. I still prefer First Class over this one. But this…is very good.